NanoCollege, UAlbany near split

SUNY trustees to weigh report advocating change

By James M. Odato

Updated 11:20 pm, Friday, July 12, 2013

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Aerial view of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, at top, and student housing on the property of the University at Albany on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Aerial view of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, at top, and student housing on the property of the University at Albany on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

A seven-member group assembled by SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher unanimously agreed that the NanoCollege needs greater ability to function independently to reach its potential, including the chance to amass up to $500 million in research dollars in 2015 alone while continuing its buildup of more than 1.7 million square feet of research and class space used by public and private sector researchers.

Without backing up some of its findings with data, the group recommended that, "The existing array of unique and growing corporate and university partnerships now calls for the establishment of a new degree-granting corporate structure within the SUNY system that includes CNSE."

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The report, dated June 13, was obtained by the Times Union on Friday.

SUNY trustees, two of whom helped write the report, are scheduled to receive a presentation from Zimpher on its contents at a Tuesday board meeting in Albany.

The document, which often uses higher-education jargon, is weak on explaining any academic purpose for the breakaway, but says the independent NanoCollege will allow "greater intellectual connectivity to UAlbany."

The report concludes: "The new status will allow CNSE's further growth and impact by enhancing its role and its ability to move quickly and nimbly to take advantage of the many emerging opportunities."

The document focuses on the "business model" of the NanoCollege, and how the new arrangement should improve its ability to streamline decision-making and work with corporate partners, SUNY central administration and the Research Foundation of SUNY.

The document also coins a new phrase or two, identifying the NanoCollege as the "Albany NanoTech Megaplex," which is part of the "highly successful New York Nanotechnology Innovation and Commercialization Corridor."

Some academic observers who spoke with the Times Union on condition of anonymity said they do not understand how this new configuration would change the status quo, in which NanoCollege leader Alain Kaloyeros essentially reports to a small number of people, particularly Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Zimpher.

"We welcome the Board of Trustees' consideration of the unanimous recommendations of the Chancellor's advisory group. This unprecedented collaboration would forge a new relationship that will maximize the academic, intellectual and programmatic interconnectivity between our two organizations. After the board acts, this will be the beginning of a new process — one in which the University at Albany and CNSE communities and all stakeholders will be engaged to participate in advancing UAlbany and CNSE."

A public official said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall and Zimpher have reviewed the report and like its recommendations. SUNY spokesman David Doyle would not confirm that, but he did acknowledge the the final draft of the report calls for a new degree-granting structure for the NanoCollege. He also acknowledged the proposal is on the agenda for Tuesday's trustees' meeting.

Assembly Higher Education Committee Chairwoman Deborah Glick said she has not seen the report and has not been briefed on it. Told of its conclusions by a reporter, she said she didn't want students not to have access to a wide range of courses, but that courses could be contracted for.

The report doesn't answer what UAlbany would get out of the new structure in return for giving up the school.

"It is not anticipated that the establishment of CNSE as part of a new degree-granting structure will require additional SUNY operating funds," the report said.